It is agreeable that football players and male ballet dancers are extremely different.

But they both wear tights.

So, why is it that football players aren’t ridiculed or labelled homosexual for wearing tights, but dancers are? Football players aren’t taunted for playing their sport. Dancers are. Why is it that male dancers are punished for doing what they love? They have to train, control their diet, and practice just as much as a football player. It’s practically the same thing, except football players throw balls and dancers throw people.

Male dancers are constantly penalized and disapproved by other people for simply following their dream. Most have grown up to believe that ballet is for girls and only girls.

Male dancers have been around since the beginning of ballet, and they deserve to be there until the end. If someone has a passion for something, they should be allowed to pursue it. No one should get in the way of that. But unfortunately, too many people have. Too many people have stopped male dancers from chasing success. Those victims’ passions have been destroyed forever, just because other people disapprove, because other people think they have the right to judge.

In the world of dance, men are weak, feminine. Fragile. Gay. Homosexual. Wimpy. Dainty. Male dancers are all these things at once just because other people said so. And in other styles of dance, especially hip-hop, guys aren’t tormented nearly as much as they are in ballet. And in every other sport, it’s the exact opposite. Men are always considered to be strong, successful, and most of all, masculine. But dancers are no exception. Many dancers have followed their dream of dancing professionally and made it to the dance industry, and even became some of the most successful dancers in history. A large number of them consider themselves to be strong, confident, independent beings who have embraced themselves and continue to pursue their passion, and have chosen to ignore the cruelty of the world outside of dance.

Some of the best dancers and performers in history were males. Michael Jackson was a global star whose songs and stellar dancing influenced the industry greatly, and whose death impacted many. Gene Kelly was an enthusiastic actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer who will be remembered especially for his dancing career and will continue to inspire countless performers. Fred Astaire was in many movies and will be remembered for his stage presence and outstanding dancing. Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the greatest ballet dancers in history, was actually known to be a ladies’ man! Today, he is happily married with three children. And there are so many more to name. Some people think it’s hard to believe that not all male dancers are gay. Just because there are more female dancers than male doesn’t mean every single male dancer is gay. This is gender discrimination, and it is not fair to men, or even to women, to be labeled as feminine just because they love to dance.

The dance industry is an exceptionally challenging industry to work in. Only a small percentage of all dancers are lucky enough (and talented enough) to become a professional dancer. Pay is low, and hours are long. Dancers are constantly getting criticized and corrected and there is always something that aches or is sore. Dancers have a hard life already, but male dancers have it hardest. The dance industry lacks men, but guys have no intention of entering the industry because of its infamous reputation with judgemental, labeling critics. As a dancer myself, I have come across many male dancers, whether they dance in my company, took class with me, or competed against me. They were all extremely talented and were definitely going somewhere in the world, but I am positive that if a person walking down the sidewalk saw them, they would think they were girly and gay and feminine. Just because they looked like a dancer. For girls, “looking like a dancer” is something they aim to achieve their whole career. Long legs and necks, straight back, turned out feet, perfectly pointed toes, strong arms, legs up to their ears. Too many men have suffered to their breaking point and have sincerely given up. They have deserted their dreams and will never get to see their efforts pay off in the end.

When football players have a big game, there are always cheerleaders on the sidelines supporting them. Dancers need their cheerleaders, too. Ballet is not just for girls; it’s for anyone and everyone who wants to strive for success and do what they love. In fact, football players take ballet classes to improve their strength and agility. Does this make them any less masculine? For all dancers, the journey is treacherous and long, but the outcome is all worth the pain and hard work.

After all, if ballet was easy, it would be called football.